System and method for biometric fallback authentication

ABSTRACT

A method for validating user credentials in a transaction initiated with a portable payment device associated with a biometric verification process including establishing a communication protocol between the portable payment device and the point-of-sale system, determining at least one result corresponding to a verification requirement of the biometric verification process, in response to determining an absence result or a failure result of the verification requirement of the biometric verification process, determining an alternate verification process associated with the portable payment device, determining a verification requirement of the alternate verification process, and transmitting the verification requirement of the alternate verification process to the point-of-sale system. A system and computer program product for validating user credentials in a transaction are also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the United States national phase of InternationalApplication No. PCT/US2019/015064 filed Jan. 25, 20109, and claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/623,766 filedJan. 30, 2018, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to payment and transactional systems, andin some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, a computer-implementedmethod, system, and computer program product for validating usercredentials in a transaction at a point-of-sale system initiated with aportable payment device associated with a biometric verificationprocess.

Description of Related Art

In today's economy, consumers commonly carry multiple portable paymentdevices (e.g., credit cards and/or debit cards) in order to initiatetransactions with merchants accepting such forms of payment. Most users,e.g., cardholders, have multiple portable payment devices in theirpossession, whether stored in their wallets, provisioned into theirdevices, e.g., tokens and/or e-wallets, or lodged with paymentproviders. For example, on average in the United States, most users havemore than three portable payment devices in their possession.

With the increase in consumers' use of portable payment devices, moreand more consumer devices with payment features are now equipped withon-device biometric capabilities, such as fingerprint sensors, thatreplace the need to enter PINs or user account information to engage inand complete transactions with their portable payment devices. Recently,credit cards and debit cards also include biometric capabilities, suchas a fingerprint sensor, for engaging in and completing transactionswith a transaction terminal. Often biometric verification on theconsumer's portable payment device may fail, however, due to a wrongfinger being used on the fingerprint sensor, the finger beingincorrectly positioned on the fingerprint sensor, an injury to thefinger causing the fingerprint sensor to misread the fingerprint, thefingerprint sensor being dirty, and/or a false rejection from thebiometric match algorithm being issued. Occasionally, the consumer isnot notified of the biometric verification failure status and becomesfrustrated as to why the payment feature on his/her portable paymentdevice is not working. Therefore, when the biometric verification failson the portable payment device, the consumer cannot use the portablepayment device to complete a transaction, since the design of theon-device verification is “gated” or in an “on/off” position. This“gated” or “on/off” biometric verification method leads to the paymentfeature on the portable payment device being held in an “off” positionwhen the biometric verification fails.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved way of providingalternate biometric verification methods for portable payment devices toimprove a consumer's ability to provide biometric verification toinitiate and complete a payment transaction.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, provided is amethod for validating user credentials in a transaction at apoint-of-sale system initiated with a portable payment device associatedwith a biometric verification process, the method comprising:establishing a communication protocol between the portable paymentdevice and the point-of-sale system; determining, with at least oneprocessor, at least one result corresponding to a verificationrequirement of the biometric verification process; in response todetermining an absence result or a failure result of the verificationrequirement of the biometric verification process, determining, with atleast one processor, an alternate verification process associated withthe portable payment device; determining, with at least one processor, averification requirement of the alternate verification process; andtransmitting the verification requirement of the alternate verificationprocess to the point-of-sale system.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the method furthercomprises, prior to establishing the communication protocol and prior todetermining the at least one result corresponding to the verificationrequirement of the biometric verification process, activating a NearField Communication (NFC) device independent of determining the at leastone result corresponding to the verification requirement of thebiometric verification process. The method further comprises, afteractivating the NFC device and prior to determining the at least oneresult corresponding to the verification requirement of the biometricverification process, automatically establishing, via the NFC device, anNFC link corresponding to the communication protocol between theportable payment device and the point-of-sale system. The biometricverification process comprises at least one verification requirementcomprising at least one of the following: facial recognition, retinarecognition, fingerprint recognition, voice recognition, or anycombination thereof. The verification requirement of the alternateverification process comprises at least one of the following: usersignature, issuer contact, alternate identification, a personalidentification number, or any combination thereof.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the method furthercomprises: in response to determining a success result of theverification requirement of the biometric verification process,determining, with at least one processor, at least one transactionlimitation parameter; determining, with at least one processor,transaction data corresponding to the transaction; and based upon thetransaction data, and in response to determining that the at least onetransaction limitation has been met, terminating, with at least oneprocessor, the biometric verification process. The at least onetransaction limitation comprises at least one of the following: amaximum transaction amount, a transaction count, cumulative transactionamount, a specified merchant limitation, a merchant category limitation,or any combination thereof. Prior to determining the alternateverification process, the method comprises reinitiating, with at leastone processor, the biometric verification process.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, provided is a portablepayment device for use in a transaction at a point-of-sale system,comprising: at least one biometric sensor programmed or configured todetermine biometric data; and at least one processor programmed orconfigured to: establish a communication protocol between the portablepayment device and the point-of-sale system; based at least partially onthe biometric data, determine at least one result corresponding to averification requirement of the biometric verification process; inresponse to determining an absence result or a failure result of theverification requirement of the biometric verification process,determine an alternate verification process associated with the portablepayment device; determine a verification requirement of the alternateverification process; and transmit the verification requirement of thealternate verification process to the point-of-sale system.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the portable payment devicecomprises at least one of the following: a portable electronic device, amobile device, a financial instrument, a credit card, a debit card, asmart card, a prepaid card, or any combination thereof. In somenon-limiting embodiments or aspects, the portable payment device furthercomprises a Near Field Communication (NFC) device. Prior to establishingthe communication protocol and prior to determining the at least oneresult corresponding to the verification requirement of the biometricverification process, the NFC device is activated independent ofdetermining the at least one result corresponding to the verificationrequirement of the biometric verification process. After activating theNFC device and prior to determining the at least one resultcorresponding to the verification requirement of the biometricverification process, an NFC link corresponding to the communicationprotocol between the portable payment device and the point-of-salesystem is automatically established via the NFC device. The biometricsensor comprises at least one of the following: a camera, a fingerprintsensor, a microphone, or any combination thereof. The verificationrequirement of the alternate verification process comprises at least oneof the following: user signature, issuer contact, alternateidentification, a personal identification number, or any combinationthereof. The at least one processor is further programmed or configuredto: in response to determining a success result of the verificationrequirement of the biometric verification process, determine at leastone transaction limitation parameter; determine transaction datacorresponding to the transaction; and based upon the transaction data,and in response to determining that the at least one transactionlimitation has been met, terminate the biometric verification process.Prior to determining the alternate verification process, the at leastone processor is programmed or configured to reinitiate the biometricverification process.

In some non-limiting embodiments and aspects, provided is a computerprogram product for validating user credentials in a transaction at apoint-of-sale system initiated with a portable payment device associatedwith a biometric verification process, comprising at least onenon-transitory computer-readable medium including program instructionsthat, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least oneprocessor to: establish a communication protocol between the portablepayment device and the point-of-sale system; based at least partially onbiometric data, determine at least one result corresponding to averification requirement of the biometric verification process; inresponse to determining an absence result or a failure result of theverification requirement of the biometric verification process,determine an alternate verification process associated with the portablepayment device; determine a verification requirement of the alternateverification process; and transmit the verification requirement of thealternate verification process to the point-of-sale system.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the program instructionsfurther comprise, prior to establishing the communication protocol andprior to determining the at least one result corresponding to theverification requirement of the biometric verification process,activating a Near Field Communication (NFC) device independent ofdetermining the at least one result corresponding to the verificationrequirement of the biometric verification process. The programinstructions further comprise, after activating the NFC device and priorto determining the at least one result corresponding to the verificationrequirement of the biometric verification process, automaticallyestablishing, via the NFC device, an NFC link corresponding to thecommunication protocol between the portable payment device and thepoint-of-sale system. The biometric verification process comprises atleast one verification requirement comprising at least one of thefollowing: facial recognition, retina recognition, fingerprintrecognition, voice recognition, or any combination thereof. Theverification requirement of the alternate verification process comprisesat least one of the following: user signature, issuer contact, alternateidentification, a personal identification number, or any combinationthereof. The program instructions cause the at least one processor to:in response to determining a success result of the verificationrequirement of the biometric verification process, determine at leastone transaction limitation parameter; determine transaction datacorresponding to the transaction; and based upon the transaction data,and in response to determining that the at least one transactionlimitation has been met, terminate the biometric verification process.Prior to determining the alternate verification process, the programinstructions cause the at least one processor to reinitiate, with atleast one processor, the biometric verification process.

Further non-limiting embodiments or aspects are set forth in thefollowing numbered clauses:

Clause 1: A method for validating user credentials in a transaction at apoint-of-sale system initiated with a portable payment device associatedwith a biometric verification process, the method comprising:establishing a communication protocol between the portable paymentdevice and the point-of-sale system; determining, with at least oneprocessor, at least one result corresponding to a verificationrequirement of the biometric verification process; in response todetermining an absence result or a failure result of the verificationrequirement of the biometric verification process, determining, with atleast one processor, an alternate verification process associated withthe portable payment device; determining, with at least one processor, averification requirement of the alternate verification process; andtransmitting the verification requirement of the alternate verificationprocess to the point-of-sale system.

Clause 2: The method of Clause 1, further comprising, prior toestablishing the communication protocol and prior to determining the atleast one result corresponding to the verification requirement of thebiometric verification process, activating a Near Field Communication(NFC) device independent of determining the at least one resultcorresponding to the verification requirement of the biometricverification process.

Clause 3: The method of Clause 1 or 2, further comprising, afteractivating the NFC device and prior to determining the at least oneresult corresponding to the verification requirement of the biometricverification process, automatically establishing, via the NFC device, anNFC link corresponding to the communication protocol between theportable payment device and the point-of-sale system.

Clause 4: The method of any of Clauses 1-3, wherein the biometricverification process comprises at least one verification requirementcomprising at least one of the following: facial recognition, retinarecognition, fingerprint recognition, voice recognition, or anycombination thereof.

Clause 5: The method of any of Clauses 1-4, wherein the verificationrequirement of the alternate verification process comprises at least oneof the following: user signature, issuer contact, alternateidentification, a personal identification number, or any combinationthereof.

Clause 6: The method of any of Clauses 1-5, further comprising: inresponse to determining a success result of the verification requirementof the biometric verification process, determining, with at least oneprocessor, at least one transaction limitation parameter; determining,with at least one processor, transaction data corresponding to thetransaction; and based upon the transaction data, and in response todetermining that the at least one transaction limitation has been met,terminating, with at least one processor, the biometric verificationprocess.

Clause 7: The method of any of Clauses 1-6, wherein the at least onetransaction limitation comprises at least one of the following: amaximum transaction amount, a transaction count, cumulative transactionamount, a specified merchant limitation, a merchant category limitation,or any combination thereof.

Clause 8: The method of any of Clauses 1-7, wherein prior to determiningthe alternate verification process, the method comprises reinitiating,with at least one processor, the biometric verification process.

Clause 9: A portable payment device for use in a transaction at apoint-of-sale system, comprising: at least one biometric sensorprogrammed or configured to determine biometric data; and at least oneprocessor programmed or configured to: establish a communicationprotocol between the portable payment device and the point-of-salesystem; based at least partially on the biometric data, determine atleast one result corresponding to a verification requirement of thebiometric verification process; in response to determining an absenceresult or a failure result of the verification requirement of thebiometric verification process, determine an alternate verificationprocess associated with the portable payment device; determine averification requirement of the alternate verification process; andtransmit the verification requirement of the alternate verificationprocess to the point-of-sale system.

Clause 10: The portable payment device of Clause 9, wherein the portablepayment device comprises at least one of the following: a portableelectronic device, a mobile device, a financial instrument, a creditcard, a debit card, a smart card, a prepaid card, or any combinationthereof.

Clause 11: The portable payment device of Clause 9 or 10, wherein theportable payment device further comprises a Near Field Communication(NFC) device, wherein, prior to establishing the communication protocoland prior to determining the at least one result corresponding to theverification requirement of the biometric verification process, the NFCdevice is activated independent of determining the at least one resultcorresponding to the verification requirement of the biometricverification process.

Clause 12: The portable payment device of any of Clauses 9-11, wherein,after activating the NFC device and prior to determining the at leastone result corresponding to the verification requirement of thebiometric verification process, an NFC link corresponding to thecommunication protocol between the portable payment device and thepoint-of-sale system is automatically established via the NFC device.

Clause 13: The portable payment device of any of Clauses 9-12, whereinthe biometric sensor comprises at least one of the following: a camera,a fingerprint sensor, a microphone, or any combination thereof, andwherein the biometric sensor is positioned on the portable paymentdevice.

Clause 14: The portable payment device of any of Clauses 9-13, whereinthe verification requirement of the alternate verification processcomprises at least one of the following: user signature, issuer contact,alternate identification, a personal identification number, or anycombination thereof.

Clause 15: The portable payment device of any of Clauses 9-14, the atleast one processor further programmed or configured to: in response todetermining a success result of the verification requirement of thebiometric verification process, determine at least one transactionlimitation parameter; determine transaction data corresponding to thetransaction; and based upon the transaction data, and in response todetermining that the at least one transaction limitation has been met,terminate the biometric verification process.

Clause 16: The portable payment device of any of Clauses 9-15, whereinprior to determining the alternate verification process, the at leastone processor is programmed or configured to reinitiate the biometricverification process.

Clause 17: A computer program product for validating user credentials ina transaction at a point-of-sale system initiated with a portablepayment device associated with a biometric verification process,comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable mediumincluding program instructions that, when executed by at least oneprocessor, cause the at least one processor to: establish acommunication protocol between the portable payment device and thepoint-of-sale system; based at least partially on biometric data,determine at least one result corresponding to verification requirementof the biometric verification process; in response to determining anabsence result or a failure result of the verification requirement ofthe biometric verification process, determine an alternate verificationprocess associated with the portable payment device; determine averification requirement of the alternate verification process; andtransmit the verification requirement of the alternate verificationprocess to the point-of-sale system.

Clause 18: The computer program product of Clause 17, wherein theprogram instructions further comprise, prior to establishing thecommunication protocol and prior to determining the at least one resultcorresponding to the verification requirement of the biometricverification process, activating a Near Field Communication (NFC) deviceindependent of determining the at least one result corresponding to theverification requirement of the biometric verification process.

Clause 19: The computer program product of Clause 17 or 18, wherein theprogram instructions further comprise, after activating the NFC deviceand prior to determining the at least one result corresponding to theverification requirement of the biometric verification process,automatically establishing, via the NFC device, an NFC linkcorresponding to the communication protocol between the portable paymentdevice and the point-of-sale system.

Clause 20: The computer program product of any of Clauses 17-19, whereinthe biometric verification process comprises at least one verificationrequirement comprising at least one of the following: facialrecognition, retina recognition, fingerprint recognition, voicerecognition, or any combination thereof.

Clause 21: The computer program product of any of Clauses 17-20, whereinthe verification requirement of the alternate verification processcomprises at least one of the following: user signature, issuer contact,alternate identification, a personal identification number, or anycombination thereof.

Clause 22: The computer program product of any of Clauses 17-21, whereinthe program instructions cause the at least one processor to: inresponse to determining a success result of the verification requirementof the biometric verification process, determine at least onetransaction limitation parameter; determine transaction datacorresponding to the transaction; and based upon the transaction data,and in response to determining that the at least one transactionlimitation has been met, terminate the biometric verification process.

Clause 23: The computer program product of any of Clauses 17-22, whereinprior to determining the alternate verification process, the programinstructions cause the at least one processor to reinitiate, with atleast one processor, the biometric verification process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional advantages and details of the disclosure are explained ingreater detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments thatare illustrated in the accompanying schematic figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of some non-limiting embodiments or aspects of anenvironment in which systems, devices, products, apparatus, and/ormethods, described herein, may be implemented according to theprinciples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of some non-limiting embodiments or aspects ofcomponents of one or more devices of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of some non-limiting embodiments or aspects of asystem and method for biometric fallback authentication; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of some non-limiting embodiments or aspects of asystem and method for biometric fallback authentication.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “end,” “upper,”“lower,” “right,” “left,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,”“lateral,” “longitudinal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to thedisclosure as it is oriented in the drawing figures. However, it is tobe understood that the disclosure may assume various alternativevariations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to thecontrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices andprocesses illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in thefollowing specification, are simply exemplary embodiments or aspects ofthe disclosure. Hence, specific dimensions and other physicalcharacteristics related to the embodiments or aspects disclosed hereinare not to be considered as limiting.

As used herein, the terms “communication” and “communicate” refer to thereceipt or transfer of one or more signals, messages, commands, or othertype of data. For one unit (e.g., any device, system, or componentthereof) to be in communication with another unit means that the oneunit is able to directly or indirectly receive data from and/or transmitdata to the other unit. This may refer to a direct or indirectconnection that is wired and/or wireless in nature. Additionally, twounits may be in communication with each other even though the datatransmitted may be modified, processed, relayed, and/or routed betweenthe first and second unit. For example, a first unit may be incommunication with a second unit even though the first unit passivelyreceives data and does not actively transmit data to the second unit. Asanother example, a first unit may be in communication with a second unitif an intermediary unit processes data from one unit and transmitsprocessed data to the second unit. It will be appreciated that numerousother arrangements are possible.

As used herein, the term “transaction service provider” may refer to anentity that receives transaction authorization requests from merchantsor other entities and provides guarantees of payment, in some casesthrough an agreement between the transaction service provider and anissuer institution. The terms “transaction service provider” and“transaction service provider system” may also refer to one or morecomputer systems operated by or on behalf of a transaction serviceprovider, such as a transaction processing server executing one or moresoftware applications. A transaction processing server may include oneor more processors and, in some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, maybe operated by or on behalf of a transaction service provider.

As used herein, the term “issuer institution” or “issuer” may refer toone or more entities, such as a bank, that provide accounts to customersfor conducting payment transactions, such as initiating credit and/ordebit payments. For example, an issuer institution may provide anaccount identifier, such as a primary account number (PAN), to acustomer that uniquely identifies one or more accounts associated withthat customer. The account identifier may be embodied on a physicalfinancial instrument, such as a payment card, and/or may be electronicand used for electronic payments. The terms “issuer institution,”“issuer,” “issuer bank,” and “issuer system” may also refer to one ormore computer systems operated by or on behalf of an issuer institution,such as a server computer executing one or more software applications.For example, an issuer system may include one or more authorizationservers for authorizing a payment transaction.

As used herein, the term “account identifier” may include one or morePANs, tokens, or other identifiers associated with a customer account.The term “token” may refer to an identifier that is used as a substituteor replacement identifier for an original account identifier, such as aPAN. Account identifiers may be alphanumeric or any combination ofcharacters and/or symbols. Tokens may be associated with a PAN or otheroriginal account identifier in one or more databases such that they canbe used to conduct a transaction without directly using the originalaccount identifier. In some examples, an original account identifier,such as a PAN, may be associated with a plurality of tokens fordifferent individuals or purposes. An issuer institution may beassociated with a bank identification number (BIN) or other uniqueidentifier that uniquely identifies it among other issuer institutions.Further, any type of account identifier may be referred to as an“identification data element type” or “key identification data elementtype,” while the content of the identifier may be referred to as an“identification data element value” or “key identification data elementvalue.”

As used herein, the term “merchant” may refer to an individual or entitythat provides goods and/or services, or access to goods and/or services,to customers based on a transaction, such as a payment transaction. Theterm “merchant” or “merchant system” may also refer to one or morecomputer systems operated by or on behalf of a merchant, such as aserver computer executing one or more software applications. A“point-of-sale (POS) system,” as used herein, may refer to one or morecomputers and/or peripheral devices used by a merchant to engage inpayment transactions with customers, including one or more card readers,near-field communication (NFC) receivers, RFID receivers, and/or othercontactless transceivers or receivers, contact-based receivers, paymentterminals, computers, servers, input devices, and/or other like devicesthat can be used to initiate a payment transaction.

As used herein, the term “mobile device” or “electronic device” mayrefer to one or more portable electronic devices configured tocommunicate with one or more networks. As an example, a mobile devicemay include a cellular phone (e.g., a smartphone or standard cellularphone), a portable computer (e.g., a tablet computer, a laptop computer,and the like), a wearable device (e.g., a watch, pair of glasses, lens,clothing, and/or the like), a personal digital assistant (PDA), and/orother like devices. The term “client device,” as used herein, refers toany electronic device that is configured to communicate with one or moreservers or remote devices and/or systems. A client device may include amobile device, a network-enabled appliance (e.g., a network-enabledtelevision, refrigerator, thermostat, and/or the like), a computer, aPOS system, and/or any other device or system capable of communicatingwith a network.

As used herein, the term “computing device” may refer to one or moreelectronic devices that are configured to directly or indirectlycommunicate with or over one or more networks. The computing device maybe a mobile device. The computing device may not be a mobile device,such as a desktop computer. Furthermore, the term “computer” may referto any computing device that includes the necessary components toreceive, process, and output data, and normally includes a display, aprocessor, a memory, an input device, and a network interface. An“application” or “application program interface” (API) refers tocomputer code or other data sorted on a computer-readable medium thatmay be executed by a processor to facilitate the interaction betweensoftware components, such as a client-side front-end and/or server-sideback-end for receiving data from the client. An “interface” refers to agenerated display, such as one or more graphical user interfaces (GUIs)with which a user may interact, either directly or indirectly (e.g.,through a keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, etc.).

As used herein, the terms “electronic wallet” and “electronic walletapplication” refer to one or more electronic devices and/or softwareapplications configured to initiate and/or conduct payment transactions.For example, an electronic wallet may include a mobile device executingan electronic wallet application and may further include server-sidesoftware and/or databases for maintaining and providing transaction datato the mobile device. An “electronic wallet provider” may include anentity that provides and/or maintains an electronic wallet for acustomer, such as Google Wallet™, Android Pay®, Apple Pay®, SamsungPay®, and/or other like electronic payment systems. In some non-limitingexamples, an issuer bank may be an electronic wallet provider. Further,any type of electronic wallet may be referred to as an “identificationdata element type” or “key identification data element type,” while thecontent of the identifier may be referred to as an “identification dataelement value” or “key identification data element value.”

As used herein, the term “portable payment device” may refer to apayment device, an electronic payment device, a payment card (e.g., acredit or debit card), a gift card, a smartcard, smart media, a payrollcard, a healthcare card, a wrist band, a machine-readable mediumcontaining account data, a keychain device or fob, an RFID transponder,a retailer discount or loyalty card, a mobile device executing anelectronic wallet application, a personal digital assistant, a securitycard, an access card, a wireless terminal, and/or a transponder, asexamples. The portable payment device may include a volatile or anon-volatile memory to store information, such as an account identifieror a name of the account holder. Further, the PAN may be referred to asan “identification data element value” or “key identification dataelement value.”

The term “account data,” as used herein, refers to any data concerningone or more accounts for one or more users. Account data may include,for example, one or more account identifiers, user identifiers,transaction histories, balances, credit limits, issuer institutionidentifiers, and/or the like.

A transaction message may be generated based on one or more transactionparameters from the transaction data, such as the transaction value, atransaction code, a merchant identifier (e.g., a unique merchantidentifier, a merchant name, a merchant location, and/or the like),and/or other information concerning the transaction.

As used herein, the term “server” may refer to or include one or moreprocessors or computers, storage devices, or similar computerarrangements that are operated by or facilitate communication andprocessing for multiple parties in a network environment, such as theInternet, although it will be appreciated that communication may befacilitated over one or more public or private network environments andthat various other arrangements are possible. Further, multiplecomputers, e.g., servers, or other computerized devices, such as POSdevices, directly or indirectly communicating in the network environmentmay constitute a “system,” such as a merchant's POS system.

Non-limiting embodiments or aspects of the present disclosure aredirected to a computer-implemented method, system, and computer programproduct for automatically generating an account profile for at least oneuser associated with a plurality of account identifiers. Non-limitingembodiments or aspects of the present disclosure provide an intelligentmethod and system to identify multiple directly or indirectly relatedaccounts that are associated with a single user or a plurality of users,e.g., a household. Using only a single data point, e.g., a keyidentification data element value (e.g., a portable payment devicenumber (or PAN), an identifier associated with a specific electronicdevice, an identifier associated with an electronic wallet, anidentifier associate with a token, and the like), non-limitingembodiments or aspects of the present disclosure determine all potentialaccounts corresponding to or associated with the user or the household.By generating and managing the user's complete account portfolio, boththe user and third parties, e.g., issuers, transaction serviceproviders, merchants, and the like, have access to important informationfor engaging in technical and business decisions. Non-limitingembodiments or aspects of the present disclosure leverage the portfolioinformation in the user account profile for cardholder recurring billingmanagement, transaction risk scoring, stand-in transaction processing,and consumer abnormal spending detection and analysis. In this way, thepresent disclosure allows users and households to more effectivelymanage their multiple accounts across multiple devices, and allows thirdparties to better serve the cardholder and protect against liabilityassociated with fraud.

Referring now to FIG. 1 , FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example environment100 in which devices, systems, and/or methods, described herein, may beimplemented. As shown in FIG. 1 , environment 100 includes a transactionservice provider system 102, an issuer system 104, a user device 106, amerchant system 108, and a network 110. Transaction service providersystem 102, issuer system 104, user device 106, and/or merchant system108 may interconnect (e.g., establish a connection to communicate) viawired connections, wireless connections, or a combination of wired andwireless connections.

Transaction service provider system 102 may include one or more devicescapable of receiving information from issuer system 104, user device106, and/or merchant system 108 via network 110 and/or communicatinginformation to issuer system 104, user device 106, and/or merchantsystem 108 via network 110. For example, transaction service providersystem 102 may include a computing device, such as a server (e.g., atransaction processing server), a group of servers, and/or other likedevices. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, transactionservice provider system 102 may be associated with a transaction serviceprovider as described herein. In some non-limiting embodiments oraspects, transaction service provider system 102 may be in communicationwith a data storage device, which may be local or remote to thetransaction service provider system 102. In some non-limitingembodiments or aspects, transaction service provider system 102 may becapable of receiving information from, storing information in,communicating information to, or searching information stored in a datastorage device.

Issuer system 104 may include one or more devices capable of receivinginformation from transaction service provider system 102 and/or userdevice 106 via a network (e.g., network 110) and/or communicatinginformation to transaction service provider system 102, user device 106,and/or merchant system 108 via the network. For example, issuer system104 may include a computing device, such as a server, a group ofservers, and/or other like devices. In some non-limiting embodiments oraspects, issuer system 104 may be associated with an issuer institutionas described herein. For example, issuer system 104 may be associatedwith an issuer institution that issued a credit account, debit account,credit card, debit card, and/or the like to a user associated with userdevice 106.

User device 106 may include one or more devices capable of receivinginformation from and/or communicating information to transaction serviceprovider system 102, issuer system 104, and/or merchant system 108, vianetwork 110. For example, user device 106 may include a client deviceand/or the like. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, userdevice 106 may or may not be capable of receiving information (e.g.,from merchant system 108) via a short range wireless communicationconnection (e.g., an NFC communication connection, an RFID communicationconnection, a Bluetooth® communication connection, and/or the like),and/or communicating information (e.g., to merchant system 108) via ashort range wireless communication connection.

Merchant system 108 may include one or more devices capable of receivinginformation from transaction service provider system 102, issuer system104, and/or user device 106 via network 110 and/or communicatinginformation to transaction service provider system 102, issuer system104, and/or user device 106 via network 110. Merchant system 108 mayalso include a device capable of receiving information from user device106 via network 110, a communication connection (e.g., an NFCcommunication connection, an RFID communication connection, a Bluetooth®communication connection, and/or the like) with user device 106, and/orthe like, and/or communicating information to user device 106 via thenetwork, the communication connection, and/or the like. For example,merchant system 108 may include a computing device, such as a server, agroup of servers, a client device, a group of client devices, and/orother like devices. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects,merchant system 108 may be associated with a merchant as describedherein. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, merchant system 108may include one or more user devices 106. For example, merchant system108 may include user device 106 which allows a merchant to communicateinformation to transaction service provider system 102. In somenon-limiting embodiments or aspects, merchant system 108 may include oneor more devices, such as computers, computer systems, and/or peripheraldevices capable of being used by a merchant to conduct a paymenttransaction with a user. For example, merchant system 108 may include aPOS device and/or a POS system.

Network 110 may include one or more wired and/or wireless networks. Forexample, network 110 may include a cellular network (e.g., a long-termevolution (LTE) network, a third generation (3G) network, a fourthgeneration (4G) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network,etc.), a public land mobile network (PLMN), a local area network (LAN),a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), atelephone network (e.g., the public switched telephone network (PSTN)),a private network, an ad hoc network, an intranet, the Internet, a fiberoptic-based network, a cloud computing network, and/or the like, and/ora combination of these or other types of networks.

The number and arrangement of devices and networks shown in FIG. 1 areprovided as an example. There may be additional devices and/or networks,fewer devices and/or networks, different devices and/or networks, ordifferently arranged devices and/or networks than those shown in FIG. 1. Furthermore, two or more devices shown in FIG. 1 may be implementedwithin a single device, or a single device shown in FIG. 1 may beimplemented as multiple, distributed devices. Additionally, oralternatively, a set of devices (e.g., one or more devices) ofenvironment 100 may perform one or more functions described as beingperformed by another set of devices of environment 100.

Referring now to FIG. 2 , FIG. 2 is a diagram of example components of adevice 200. Device 200 may correspond to one or more devices oftransaction service provider system 102, and/or one or more devices ofissuer system 104, user device 106, and/or merchant system 108. In somenon-limiting embodiments or aspects, transaction service provider system102, issuer system 104, user device 106, and/or merchant system 108 mayinclude at least one device 200 and/or at least one component of device200. As shown in FIG. 2 , device 200 may include a bus 202, a processor204, memory 206, a storage component 208, an input component 210, anoutput component 212, and a communication interface 214.

Bus 202 may include a component that permits communication among thecomponents of device 200. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects,processor 204 may be implemented in hardware, firmware, or a combinationof hardware and software. For example, processor 204 may include aprocessor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processingunit (GPU), an accelerated processing unit (APU), etc.), amicroprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and/or any processingcomponent (e.g., a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), anapplication-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc.) that can beprogrammed to perform a function. Memory 206 may include random accessmemory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), and/or another type of dynamic orstatic storage device (e.g., flash memory, magnetic memory, opticalmemory, etc.) that stores information and/or instructions for use byprocessor 204.

Storage component 208 may store information and/or software related tothe operation and use of device 200. For example, storage component 208may include a hard disk (e.g., a magnetic disk, an optical disk, amagneto-optic disk, a solid state disk, etc.), a compact disc (CD), adigital versatile disc (DVD), a floppy disk, a cartridge, a magnetictape, and/or another type of computer-readable medium, along with acorresponding drive.

Input component 210 may include a component that permits device 200 toreceive information, such as via user input (e.g., a touch screendisplay, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a button, a switch, amicrophone, etc.). Additionally, or alternatively, input component 210may include a sensor for sensing information (e.g., a global positioningsystem (GPS) component, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an actuator,etc.). Output component 212 may include a component that provides outputinformation from device 200 (e.g., a display, a speaker, one or morelight-emitting diodes (LEDs), etc.).

Communication interface 214 may include a transceiver-like component(e.g., a transceiver, a separate receiver and transmitter, etc.) thatenables device 200 to communicate with other devices, such as via awired connection, a wireless connection, or a combination of wired andwireless connections. Communication interface 214 may permit device 200to receive information from another device and/or provide information toanother device. For example, communication interface 214 may include anEthernet interface, an optical interface, a coaxial interface, aninfrared interface, a radio frequency (RF) interface, a universal serialbus (USB) interface, a Wi-Fi® interface, a cellular network interface,and/or the like.

Device 200 may perform one or more processes described herein. Device200 may perform these processes based on processor 204 executingsoftware instructions stored by a computer-readable medium, such asmemory 206 and/or storage component 208. A computer-readable medium(e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable medium) is defined herein as anon-transitory memory device. A memory device includes memory spacelocated inside of a single physical storage device or memory spacespread across multiple physical storage devices.

Software instructions may be read into memory 206 and/or storagecomponent 208 from another computer-readable medium or from anotherdevice via communication interface 214. When executed, softwareinstructions stored in memory 206 and/or storage component 208 may causeprocessor 204 to perform one or more processes described herein.Additionally, or alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in placeof or in combination with software instructions to perform one or moreprocesses described herein. Thus, embodiments described herein are notlimited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.

The number and arrangement of components shown in FIG. 2 are provided asan example. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, device 200 mayinclude additional components, fewer components, different components,or differently arranged components than those shown in FIG. 2 .Additionally, or alternatively, a set of components (e.g., one or morecomponents) of device 200 may perform one or more functions described asbeing performed by another set of components of device 200.

With reference to FIG. 3 , FIG. 3 is a flowchart of some non-limitingembodiments or aspects of a process 300 for validating user credentialsin a transaction at a point-of-sale system initiated with a portablepayment device associated with a biometric verification process. In somenon-limiting embodiments or aspects, one or more of the steps of process300 may be performed (e.g., completely, partially, etc.) by thetransaction service provider system 102 (e.g., one or more devices oftransaction service provider system 102). In some non-limitingembodiments or aspects, the process 300 may be performed by anotherdevice or a group of devices separate from or including transactionservice provider system 102, such as issuer system 104 (e.g., one ormore devices of issuer system 104), user device 106, or merchant system108 (e.g., one or more devices of merchant system 108).

As shown in FIG. 3 , at step 302, process 300 includes activating a NearField Communication (NFC) device prior to determining at least oneresult corresponding to a verification requirement of the biometricverification process. At step 304, an NFC link between the portablepayment device and the point-of-sale (POS) system is automaticallyestablished via the NFC device. At step 306, the at least one resultcorresponding to the verification requirement of the biometricverification process is determined by the least one processor. At step308, in response to determining an absence result or a failure result ofthe verification requirement of the biometric verification process, theat least one processor determines an alternate verification processassociated with the portable payment device. At step 310, the at leastone processor determines a verification requirement of the alternateverification process. At step 312, the NFC device transmits theverification requirement of the alternate verification process to thepoint-of-sale system.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the process 300 includesactivating the NFC device independently of determining the at least oneresult corresponding to the verification requirement of the biometricverification process. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, thebiometric verification process may include at least one verificationrequirement including at least one of: facial recognition, retinarecognition, fingerprint recognition, voice recognition, or anycombination thereof. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, theverification requirement of the alternate verification process includesat least one of the following: a user signature, an issuer contact, analternate identification, a personal identification number (including anonline PIN or an offline PIN), or any combination thereof.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the process 300 may furtherinclude, in response to determining a success result of the verificationrequirement of the biometric verification process, determining, with atleast one processor, at least one transaction limitation parameter. Insome non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the at least one transactionlimitation includes at least one of the following: a maximum transactionamount, a transaction count, cumulative transaction amount, a specifiedmerchant limitation, a merchant category limitation, or any combinationthereof. Once the at least one transaction limitation parameter has beendetermined, the at least one processor determines transaction datacorresponding to the transaction. Based upon the transaction data, andin response to determining that the at least one transaction limitationhas been met, the at least one processor will terminate the biometricverification process.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, prior to determining thealternate verification process, the process 300 includes reinitiating,with the at least one processor, the biometric verification process.

Using process 300, unlike the “gated” or “on/off” configuration ofcurrent portable payment devices, the NFC device of the portable paymentdevice or the POS terminal of the present disclosure is alwaysactivated. Therefore, the payment feature of the portable payment deviceis always activated.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, a portable payment devicefor use in the transaction at the point-of-sale system includes at leastone biometric sensor programmed or configured to determine biometricdata, an NFC device programmed or configured to transmit data, and atleast one processor programmed or configured to perform at least onestep of process 300. The biometric sensor may be a camera, a fingerprintsensor, a microphone, or any combination thereof.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the portable payment deviceis a credit card or debit card issued by a financial institution. It isalso contemplated that the portable payment device may be a prepaidcard. The credit card or debit card may include a biometric sensorthereon to conduct a biometric verification process. The biometricsensor provided on the credit card or debit card is different from abiometric sensor that is provided on a user's phone or a POS terminal,which requires the POS terminal to perform the biometric verification.In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects of the process 300, the userwill insert the credit card or debit card into the POS terminal and thenperform the biometric verification on the credit card or debit cardusing the biometric sensor. In the event the biometric verification isaccepted by the biometric sensor, the transaction at the POS terminal isinitiated. In the event the biometric verification is not accepted bythe biometric sensor, a “fallback” or alternative verification ispresented on the POS terminal to permit the user to use a different typeof verification to initiate the transaction on the POS terminal.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, on a portable paymentdevice there is a division of labor between a payment application and abiometric verification application. In some non-limiting embodiments oraspects, the payment application and the biometric verificationapplication are implemented as two separate applications. In somenon-limiting embodiments or aspects, the payment application and thebiometric verification application are implemented as one applicationcombining both functionalities. The payment application manages theinteractions between the credit card or debit card and the POS terminal.The biometric verification application enrolls biometric templates,contains biometric reference templates, performs the biometricverification, and informs the payment application of the biometricverification results.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the payment applicationwill request and check the biometric verification on the portablepayment device by communicating with the biometric verificationapplication. In the event the biometric verification outcome issuccessful, the payment application will send a transaction response tothe POS terminal indicating no cardholder verification method (CVM) isrequired to perform the transaction. The message may be signed by theportable payment device and verified by the POS terminal. In somenon-limiting embodiments or aspects, the message is a CVM list forcontact chip transactions or card transaction qualifiers for contactlesschip transactions. The issuer of the portable payment device canoptionally set at least one threshold in the payment application tolimit the maximum transaction amount, counts of transaction numbers, ormaximum accumulated transaction amounts for transactions with successfulbiometric verification. In the event the biometric verification fails,the payment application may trigger a biometric verification retryoption according to an issuer setting, such as a maximum number ofretrys permitted per transaction. In the event the biometricverification fails and the issuer set retry limit is exceeded or theissuer does not permit biometric verification retry options or the userdoes not activate or disable biometric verification on the portablepayment device, the payment application may request the POS terminal toperform “fallback” CVM set by the issuer, by sending a message to thePOS terminal. To activate the “fallback” CVM, a message is sent by thepayment application to the POS terminal. The “fallback” CVM may includeat least one of the following: an online PIN, an offline PIN, and a usersignature.

With reference to FIG. 4 , FIG. 4 is a flowchart of some non-limitingembodiments or aspects of a process 400 for validating user credentialsin a transaction at a point-of-sale system initiated with a portablepayment device associated with a biometric verification process. In somenon-limiting embodiments or aspects, one or more of the steps of process400 may be performed (e.g., completely, partially, etc.) by thetransaction service provider system 102 (e.g., one or more devices oftransaction service provider system 102). In some non-limitingembodiments or aspects, the process 400 may be performed by anotherdevice or a group of devices separate from or including transactionservice provider system 102, such as issuer system 104 (e.g., one ormore devices of issuer system 104), user device 106, or merchant system108 (e.g., one or more devices of merchant system 108).

As shown in FIG. 4 , at step 402, process 400 includes establishing acommunication link between the portable payment device and the POSsystem prior to determining at least one result corresponding to averification requirement of the biometric verification process. In somenon-limiting embodiments or aspects, process 400 may include activatingthe communication protocol supported by the portable payment device,such as a contact chip communication protocol, Bluetooth®, infrared, orultrasound. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, a communicationchip on the portable payment device is moved by a user to be insertedinto an interface on the POS system to establish the communicationprotocol. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, in order toestablish the communication protocol, an answer-to-reset protocol isinitiated to establish communication between the portable payment deviceand the POS system. At step 404, the at least one result correspondingto the verification requirement of the biometric verification process isdetermined by the least one processor. At step 406, in response todetermining an absence result or a failure result of the verificationrequirement of the biometric verification process, the at least oneprocessor determines an alternate verification process associated withthe portable payment device. At step 408, the at least one processordetermines a verification requirement of the alternate verificationprocess. At step 410, the point-of-sale system assesses and validatesthe verification requirement of the alternate verification process.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the biometric verificationprocess may include at least one verification requirement including atleast one of: facial recognition, retina recognition, fingerprintrecognition, voice recognition, or any combination thereof. In somenon-limiting embodiments or aspects, the verification requirement of thealternate verification process includes at least one of the following: auser signature, an issuer contact, an alternate identification, apersonal identification number (including an online PIN or an offlinePIN), or any combination thereof.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the process 400 may furtherinclude, in response to determining a success result of the verificationrequirement of the biometric verification process, determining, with atleast one processor, at least one transaction limitation parameter. Insome non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the at least one transactionlimitation includes at least one of the following: a maximum transactionamount, a transaction count, cumulative transaction amount, a specifiedmerchant limitation, a merchant category limitation, or any combinationthereof. Once the at least one transaction limitation parameter has beendetermined, the at least one processor determines transaction datacorresponding to the transaction. Based upon the transaction data, andin response to determining that the at least one transaction limitationhas been met, the at least one processor will terminate the biometricverification process.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, prior to determining thealternate verification process, the process 400 includes reinitiating,with the at least one processor, the biometric verification process.

Using process 400, unlike the “gated” or “on/off” configuration ofcurrent portable payment devices, the POS terminal of the presentdisclosure is always activated. Therefore, the payment feature of theportable payment device is always activated.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the portable payment devicefor use in the transaction at the point-of-sale system includes at leastone biometric sensor programmed or configured to determine biometricdata, and a contact chip programmed or configured to perform at leastone step of process 400. The biometric sensor may be a fingerprintsensor.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the portable payment deviceis a credit card or debit card issued by a financial institution. It isalso contemplated that the portable payment device may be a prepaidcard. The credit card or debit card may include a biometric sensorthereon to conduct a biometric verification process. The biometricsensor provided on the credit card or debit card is different from abiometric sensor that is provided on a user's phone or a POS terminal,which requires the POS terminal to perform the biometric verification.In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects of the process 400, the userwill insert the credit card or debit card into the POS terminal and thenperform the biometric verification on the credit card or debit cardusing the biometric sensor. In the event the biometric verification isaccepted by the biometric sensor, the transaction at the POS terminal isinitiated. In the event the biometric verification is not accepted bythe biometric sensor, a “fallback” or alternative verification ispresented on the POS terminal to permit the user to use a different typeof verification to initiate the transaction on the POS terminal.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, on a portable paymentdevice, there is a division of labor between a payment application and abiometric verification application. In some non-limiting embodiments oraspects, the payment application and the biometric verificationapplication are implemented as two separate applications. In somenon-limiting embodiments or aspects, the payment application and thebiometric verification application may be implemented as one applicationcombining both functionalities. The payment application may manage theinteractions between the credit card or debit card and the POS terminal.The biometric verification application enrolls biometric templates,contains biometric reference templates, performs the biometricverification, and informs the payment application of the biometricverification results.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the payment applicationwill request and check the biometric verification on the portablepayment device by communicating with the biometric verificationapplication. In the event the biometric verification outcome issuccessful, the payment application will communicate a transactionresponse to the POS terminal indicating no cardholder verificationmethod (CVM) is required to perform the transaction. The message may besigned by the portable payment device and verified by the POS terminal.In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the message is a CVM listfor contact chip transactions or card transaction qualifiers forcontactless chip transactions. The issuer of the portable payment devicecan optionally set at least one threshold in the payment application tolimit the maximum transaction amount, counts of transaction numbers, ormaximum accumulated transaction amounts for transactions with successfulbiometric verification. In the event the biometric verification fails,the payment application may trigger a biometric verification retryoption according to an issuer setting, such as a maximum number ofretrys permitted per transaction. In the event the biometricverification fails and the issuer set retry limit is exceeded or theissuer does not permit biometric verification retry options or the userdoes not activate or disable biometric verification on the portablepayment device, the payment application may request the POS terminal toperform “fallback” CVM set by the issuer, by sending a message to thePOS terminal. To activate the “fallback” CVM, a message is sent by thepayment application to the POS terminal. The “fallback” CVM may includeat least one of the following: an online PIN, an offline PIN, and a usersignature.

Although the disclosure has been described in detail for the purpose ofillustration based on what is currently considered to be the mostpractical and preferred embodiments or aspects, it is to be understoodthat such detail is solely for that purpose and that the disclosure isnot limited to the disclosed embodiments or aspects, but, on thecontrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangementsthat are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Forexample, it is to be understood that the present disclosure contemplatesthat, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment canbe combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for validating user credentials ina payment transaction between a user and a merchant at a point-of-salesystem initiated with a portable payment device associated with abiometric verification process, the method comprising: prior todetermining a result corresponding to a verification requirement of thebiometric verification process, activating a Near Field Communication(NFC) device independent of determining the result corresponding to theverification requirement of the biometric verification process, whereinthe biometric verification process comprises the user submitting abiometric input; after activating the NFC device and prior todetermining the result corresponding to the verification requirement ofthe biometric verification process, automatically establishing, via theNFC device, an NFC link between the portable payment device and thepoint-of-sale system for conducting the payment transaction;determining, with at least one processor, that the result correspondingto the verification requirement of the biometric verification processcomprises a verification failure based on the biometric input; inresponse to determining that the biometric verification processcomprises the verification failure, determining, with at least oneprocessor, an alternate non-biometric verification process associatedwith the portable payment device; determining, with at least oneprocessor, a verification requirement of the alternate non-biometricverification process; and automatically transmitting a transactionmessage to the point-of-sale system with the portable payment device viathe NFC link to initiate the payment transaction, the transactionmessage comprising transaction data associated with the paymenttransaction for processing the payment transaction and the verificationrequirement of the alternate non-biometric verification process, whereintransmission of the transaction message causes the point-of-sale systemto process the payment transaction and verify the payment transactionaccording to the verification requirement of the alternate non-biometricverification process.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the biometricverification process comprises at least one verification requirementcomprising at least one of the following: facial recognition, retinarecognition, fingerprint recognition, voice recognition, or anycombination thereof.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the verificationrequirement of the alternate non-biometric verification processcomprises at least one of the following: user signature, issuer contact,alternate identification, a personal identification number, or anycombination thereof.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein prior todetermining the alternate non-biometric verification process, the methodcomprises reinitiating, with at least one processor, the biometricverification process.
 5. A portable payment device for use in a paymenttransaction between a user and a merchant at a point-of-sale systeminitiated with the portable payment device associated with a biometricverification process, comprising: at least one biometric sensorprogrammed or configured to determine biometric data; and at least oneprocessor programmed or configured to: prior to determining a resultcorresponding to a verification requirement of the biometricverification process, activate a Near Field Communication (NFC) deviceindependent of determining the result corresponding to the verificationrequirement of the biometric verification process, wherein the biometricverification process comprises the user submitting a biometric input;after activating the NFC device and prior to determining the resultcorresponding to the verification requirement of the biometricverification process, automatically establish, via the NFC device, anNFC link between the portable payment device and the point-of-salesystem for conducting the payment transaction; based at least partiallyon the biometric data, determine that the result corresponding to theverification requirement of a biometric verification process comprises averification failure based on the biometric input; in response todetermining that the biometric verification process comprises theverification failure, determine an alternate non-biometric verificationprocess associated with the portable payment device; determine averification requirement of the alternate non-biometric verificationprocess; and automatically transmit a transaction message to thepoint-of-sale system with the portable payment device via the NFC linkto initiate the payment transaction, the transaction message comprisingtransaction data associated with the payment transaction for processingthe payment transaction and the verification requirement of thealternate non-biometric verification process, wherein transmission ofthe transaction message causes the point-of-sale system to process thepayment transaction and verify the payment transaction according to theverification requirement of the alternate non-biometric verificationprocess.
 6. The portable payment device of claim 5, wherein the portablepayment device comprises at least one of the following: a portableelectronic device, a mobile device, a financial instrument, a creditcard, a debit card, a smart card, a prepaid card, or any combinationthereof.
 7. The portable payment device of claim 5, wherein thebiometric sensor comprises at least one of the following: a camera, afingerprint sensor, a microphone, or any combination thereof.
 8. Theportable payment device of claim 5, wherein the verification requirementof the alternate non-biometric verification process comprises at leastone of the following: user signature, issuer contact, alternateidentification, a personal identification number, or any combinationthereof.
 9. The portable payment device of claim 5, wherein prior todetermining the alternate non-biometric verification process, the atleast one processor is programmed or configured to reinitiate thebiometric verification process.
 10. A computer program product forvalidating user credentials in a payment transaction between a user anda merchant at a point-of-sale system initiated with a portable paymentdevice associated with a biometric verification process, comprising atleast one non-transitory computer-readable medium including programinstructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the atleast one processor to: prior to determining a result corresponding to averification requirement of the biometric verification process, activatea Near Field Communication (NFC) device independent of determining theresult corresponding to the verification requirement of the biometricverification process, wherein the biometric verification processcomprises the user submitting a biometric input; after activating theNFC device and prior to determining the result corresponding to theverification requirement of the biometric verification process,automatically establish, via the NFC device, an NFC link between theportable payment device and the point-of-sale system for conducting thepayment transaction; based at least partially on biometric data,determine that the result corresponding to the verification requirementof the biometric verification process comprises a verification failurebased on the biometric input; in response to determining that thebiometric verification process comprises the verification failure,determine an alternate non-biometric verification process associatedwith the portable payment device; determine a verification requirementof the alternate non-biometric verification process; and automaticallytransmit a transaction message to the point-of-sale system with theportable payment device via the NFC link to initiate the paymenttransaction, the transaction message comprising transaction dataassociated with the payment transaction for processing the paymenttransaction and the verification requirement of the alternatenon-biometric verification process, wherein transmission of thetransaction message causes the point-of-sale system to process thepayment transaction and verify the payment transaction according to theverification requirement of the alternate non-biometric verificationprocess.
 11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein thebiometric verification process comprises at least one verificationrequirement comprising at least one of the following: facialrecognition, retina recognition, fingerprint recognition, voicerecognition, or any combination thereof.